ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Fresh off a strong performance at the East Coast Conference Championships, the Roberts Wesleyan University Indoor Track and Field program sent four athletes to the Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier at Boston University on Sunday.
Ryan Karker,
Lee Sortore,
Acacia Barber and
Kylee Odell headed east on I-90 in search of a spot in the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships on March 10 and 11 in Virginia Beach.
Although it does not appear that any will be making the trip to Virginia Beach, each turned in a memorable performance.
"This has been a really encouraging indoor season," said Andrew Dorr, Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. "We've had so many athletes make leaps toward the national level. They're inspiring each other each weekend and I can't wait to see what happens next."
Karker, who finished 16
th in the 800 meters at the 2022 NCAA Division II meet, ran 1:51.09 to finish 11
th in Boston. It was his third sub-1:52 this season and sits just outside of NCAA-qualifying position.
 Sortore ran 8:18.24 to finish 18th in the 3,000. He broke the school record that he set two weeks ago by seven seconds and posted and NCAA DII Provisional Qualifying time, which establishes him as a national-caliber athlete.
 "Ryan had a magical season last year and continues to be a national-caliber middle-distance runner," Dorr said. "This year, it's Lee. It has been so fun and so rewarding to see Lee's hard work pay off this season."Â
Barber ran 10:02.61 in the 3,000 to finish 16
th. Her time is the third best in Roberts' history and caps a season of great improvement where she trimmed 59 seconds off of her previous personal best.
Odell set personal records in both the mile (5:08.58) and 1,000. Her time in the 1,000 is the third best in Roberts' history.
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